Improvement in corn-shelling implements



r H. P. MEGGS.

- CORN-SHELLING IMPLEMENT.

No.188,931. Patented March 27,1877.

ESSES AHORNEYS N. PETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

Unrrnn STATES PATENT FFIGE HOSEA P. MEGGS, OF POLKTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-SHELLING IMPLEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,931, dated March 27, 1877 application filed February 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. HOSEA P. MEG-GS, of Polkton, in the county of Anson and State of North Uarolina, have invented a new and valuable Improvementin Corn-Sheliers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side elevation of my corn-sheller, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

The nature of this invention consists, mainly, in the peculiar shape given to a metal cornshelling plate, whereby the same is adapted to the form of the ear of corn, and more effectually grasped by the operators hand.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates a metal plate, preferably of cast-iron, which is provided on its back with staples a a, one near each end of said plate, and on its face with knobs or points a, a, whereby the corn is shelled. The said plate is halfheart shaped, a nearly straight side, A and a curved side, A The broad end of said plate or sheller A is provided at the corner, partly formed by the curved side A with a deep oblique recess, B, extending toward the center of said plate. Opposite to this, on the straight side A is a shallower recess or inward curve, 0. Between said recesses B and O is a heart-shaped thumb-grasp, D, or extension of plate A. The point or corner D, between deep recess B and curved side A is bent, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to give the face of the plate or sheller A a curvature adapting it to the shape of an ear of corn. E designates a strap, which is passed through staples a a, and is provided with an expanded under part or shield, F.

When used, the said sheller or plate A extends across the palm of the operators right hand, the heart-shaped extension or thumb-grasp D being held between the thumb and forefinger thereof, and the back of bent point or corner D being against the enlarged lower part of the thumb. Shield F rests upon the back of the hand, and gives a bearing to the same. The operators thumb sets into deep recess B, and his forefinger into the opposite shallower recess 0. Plate A then conforms to the shape of the operators hand, which is used as if the palm thereof were set with the shelling-points a a. The ear of corn is grasped in the left hand, and the grains stripped or shelled therefrom by rubbing said points over them. The greater part of thumb-grasp D is left without shelling-points, to save the thumb from injury.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Corn shelling plate A, having Sharp knobs or shelling-points a a, bent point D, and thumb-grasp D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of strap E, having hand shield F, with plate A, having shelling-points a a, bent corner D, and recesses B and O, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HOSEA PRESLAR MEGGS.

Witnesses:

N. G. THOMAS, J. W. GALE. 

